  Later this week, you will receive the post card above in your mailbox inviting you, your family, and friends to several upcoming events planned at FPCE:
Sunday, July 25 we will celebrate "Christmas in July" with a service of lessons and carols. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we were not gathering in person during the Advent/Christmas season, so we didn't get to share in the familiar stories or songs together. Now is your chance! Join readers/song leaders Rhonda Apessos, Shaun Cloonan, John Foster, Stephanie McGuigan, Tyler McGuigan, Mandy Rineer, Sunny Sakai, Jim Segedy, and Lisa Segedy as we share in the old familiar stories and raise our voices in song proclaiming "glory to the newborn king!" Sunday, August 1 will be a special day. While Pastor Michael Rucker formally retired on June 30, 2020, back then we were recording on Friday afternoons and only about 6 people were in attendance for his final service. We honored him with a video tribute of messages from many congregation members, but we had hoped that a day would come that we could really celebrate together in person. That day has arrived, and it's August 1st! Pastor Michael will lead us in a communion worship service, and we will come together in the Gathering Place afterward for a formal retirement reception. Come join us as we recognize Michael (and Heather!) for their nearly 8 years of service with us. Sunday, August 15 is another day to note. Our full emerging worship ensemble has not formally gathered to lead worship since February 2020. We will sing some of our favorite songs from our emerging format (think "Come, Now is the Time to Worship," "We are Forgiven," and more!). It will be a welcome sight to have our musicians leading in worship again (more than just Sunny and Shaun!). *Please note that worship committee chair Rhonda Apessos and minister of music Shaun Cloonan along with office manager Judy Mysels are diligently working to secure guest preachers for our upcoming services. We hope to have all of August and September confirmed before the next newsletter is mailed out. Finally, we resume worship at the 11:00 hour on Sunday, September 12 by welcoming the choir back to our service for the first time since March 2020. A picnic on the side lawn will take place immediately following worship. More details about set-up, donations, etc. will be coming in late August. But mark your calendars and bring a friend to join us for Rally Day!  There will be a congregational meeting immediately following worship on Sunday, August 1 for the purpose of electing the pastor nominating committee. If anyone is interested in serving, please contact Flo Raisig or the church office ASAP. All active members who are able are encouraged to attend the meeting and participate in the vote.
 With sorrow for our earthly loss yet with sure resurrection hope, we share with you that Sarah G. Monk (Sallie) was received into the Church Triumphant on Saturday, July 3, 2021. Sallie was a pillar of the Edgewood congregation, having served in many leadership and staff positions over the past 40 years. She was a Sunday School teacher and superintendent, youth director, moderator of Presbyterian Women, deacon for numerous terms, bible study leader, and congregational visitor among others. Her faith was strong and her kindness unending. Her loss will be felt by many, but we take comfort in the knowledge that she is with the Lord that she so loved.
Here is the obituary with arrangements from the Nied Funeral Home website: On a warm Saturday afternoon, Sallie Monk joined her loved ones in Heaven. She is survived by her daughters Lori Stutz, Lynne Legge, her grandson Hunter Legge and her sister Elinor McGoldrick (Ken). She is also survived by many honorary and step children, nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. Sallie was a joyful, helpful, caring woman. Along with various careers, nothing compared to her improving the world around her especially with her church and many, many more volunteer organizations. She is beloved by her community and will be sorely missed. Friends received Thursday 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. at the Thomas L. Nied Funeral Home, Inc., 7441 Washington Street Swissvale. Interment will be held privately. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, July 24, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. in the First Presbyterian Church of Edgewood 120 East Swissvale Avenue Edgewood, PA 15218 www.niedfuneralhome.com  Dear Members of First Presbyterian Church of Edgewood,
May the grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. In a recent meeting with the Personnel Committee, the results of a FPCE survey were discussed. While there were positive findings, in part, it was determined that the general consensus of survey respondents was that I am not a fit for First Presbyterian Church of Edgewood. On the evening of June 28, 2021, a special session meeting was conducted where the body was informed by the Presbytery Liaison that it in the best interest for both FPCE and myself that our time together come to an end. Thus, this notification serves as my formal resignation as Covenant Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, effective July 31, 2021; my last day in the pulpit will be July 18, 2021. While there is a large number of members, I did not have the privilege of meeting in person due to COVID-19, I always looked toward the day where we could see one another face to face. As I close, my heart-felt prayer for you is this: May you grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. On behalf of my family, and myself, it was a pleasure to serve you. Thank you for having given me the opportunity to be at First Presbyterian Church of Edgewood. Respectfully, Rev. Anthony Rivera
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